Windows 11 October 2025 Update Causes Keyboard and Mouse Issues in WinRE

Microsoft has acknowledged that the Windows 11 October 2025 cumulative update (KB5066835) is causing significant issues with the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Users report that after installing this mandatory security update, USB keyboards and mice become unresponsive within WinRE, making it impossible to navigate recovery options. WinRE is a critical feature used when Windows cannot boot, for troubleshooting, resetting the system, or managing multiple OS installations. The problem does not affect input devices within the normal Windows environment. Microsoft is investigating the issue and plans to release an out-of-band update for Windows 11 24H2/25H2 to resolve it. Users seeking an immediate workaround can manually replace the WinRE image (winre.wim) with a version from an older Windows 11 ISO, though this process is complex and carries risks. Additionally, the update reportedly caused other problems, including breaking localhost connectivity (now patched), disabling File Explorer’s Preview Pane, and performance regressions in some games. Another unrelated issue causing Windows to switch between light and dark themes has been linked to PowerToys v0.95 rather than the update itself. Microsoft has confirmed awareness of these problems and is working on fixes, but users are advised to be cautious when performing recovery operations until the patch is released.